Colin Cowherd’s Misstep: Overlooking Buffalo’s Running Game

During a lively Wednesday afternoon on Fox Sports Radio and FS1, Colin Cowherd lavished praise on the Kansas City Chiefs after they steam‑rolled the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. He highlighted Patrick Mahomes’ ability to turn a sloppy outing into a win, pointing to the impact of rookie running back Kenneth Walker as the “anchor leg” of a relay race.

What made Cowherd’s commentary sticky, however, was the comparison he drew with Buffalo. He insisted that quarterback Josh Allen “doesn’t have any help” in the Bills’ backfield, implying that if Allen has an off day, the team is instantly out of the race.

“Mahomes is running a race, but it’s a relay race, and Kenneth Walker ran the anchor leg on Monday night. That’s what Josh Allen doesn’t have… If Josh plays poorly – lights out, they’re not winning a big game,” he tweeted from his show’s account.

That statement landed the host a “community‑noted” flag from the network’s audience, and for good reason. The claim that Buffalo lacks a genuine running threat flies in the face of the facts. The Bills entered the season with James Cook—who led the NFL in rushing yards the previous year—sitting behind Allen in the shotgun.

Cook’s 2025 campaign produced 1,263 rushing yards, a 5.2‑yard average and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers aren’t just decent; they’re elite. In fact, Cook’s production ranks higher than most of the league’s premier backs, making the “no help” line sound, at best, like a misinformed jab.

It’s worth noting that Allen’s own performance has been nothing short of spectacular. He threw for 331 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 73 yards against Houston—a game that, on paper, looked like a walk‑over for the Bills. The point Cowherd was trying to make—“if Allen slips, Buffalo is dead”—does hold some logic in a quarterback‑centric offense, but the premise that there’s no viable running option beside him is simply inaccurate.

Fans and analysts alike have long debated how much a strong rushing attack can cushion a quarterback’s occasional lapses. The Bills have shown that when Allen makes a mistake, Cook can step in, pick up crucial first downs, and keep the defense honest. It’s a classic relay scenario, just with a different runner than Cowherd imagined.

Sure, the Chiefs’ roster boasts a versatile back in Walker, and Mahomes’ ability to adapt is legendary. Still, the comparison overlooks the nuance that every team’s “anchor leg” looks different. Buffalo’s anchor isn’t a rookie backup; it’s a proven rusher who led the league in yards a season ago.

In the end, Cowherd’s mistake is a reminder that even seasoned commentators can slip up when they rely on broad strokes instead of digging into the stats. The good news? He’s shown a willingness to adjust his view when presented with the numbers. Once he acknowledges James Cook’s contributions, the narrative shifts from “Allen alone” to “Allen plus a premier running back.”

For Buffalo fans, the takeaway is simple: the Bills aren’t a one‑man show. They have a quarterback many consider the best in the league, and they have a rusher who can shoulder the load when the situation demands it. As the season unfolds, both pieces will likely prove essential to the team’s success.